It is rather easy to answer the first question, “What is the role of the Pope for Catholics?” by citing the Catholic Church’s official teaching. But the accompanying observation that you make illustrates the challenge of living in unity and charity in the face of varying personal styles and preferences.

The last three popes, for example, have been quite different from one another in personality and style! First, there was the breathtaking presence of St. John Paul II, whose booming voice dominated the world stage so effectively that he even had a powerful influence in geopolitical affairs. 

He was then followed by Pope Benedict XVI, who seemed shy in comparison, but whose homilies and teachings were amazingly clear and compelling, owing to his years as one of the foremost theologians in the world before becoming pope. 

And now, these last few years, we have Pope Francis, whose thinking and appeal to individuals come not so much in the form of crisp doctrinal or theological affirmations, but rather in concrete personal outreach to those who find themselves on the fringes of society and of the Church. 

When we consider, then, the words of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) referring to the pope as the successor of St. Peter, and therefore as “the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the faithful,” it is tempting for any individual to desire one of these styles over others. Or even to wish for some pastoral model from still longer ago, such as the era when popes were earthly rulers in their own right. 

Even so, such an exercise to choose one of these models and disparage the others — especially when it entails scorn for the current occupant of the papacy with a wish to return to our favorite leaders from the past — destroys unity. 

It is reminiscent of the situation about which St. Paul was writing to the Corinthians: “Each of you is saying, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:12-13)

St. Paul was referring to the fault of Christians who seek a unity based on their own preferences rather than a unity based on adherence to Christ. Within Christ’s mystical body, the Church, each one of its members expresses differently some aspect of the manifold riches of Christ. He has created each of us as unique, and this applies also to those whom God has called to shepherd the whole Church at a given moment. 

When our current pope, bishop, or pastor shares the message of Christ with us in his own way — provided that what he says and does is both morally and doctrinally in keeping with the faith — it is not necessary to compare his manner of doing so, either favorably or unfavorably, with that of his predecessors. This is because each one has something unique to add to the manifestation of our Lord’s continual presence in his Church. 

At the same time, however, in appreciating the gift of our current pastors, it is also right for us to remember and hold on to the specific gifts of their predecessors. Today’s pastors have the mission of building upon the legacy of their predecessors, not of substituting teaching that would be alien to what has gone before. 

Always seeking to interpret the teaching of the present pope in a way that is harmonious rather than contradictory to that of his predecessors is not only acceptable but necessary, since each one is given the mission not of proclaiming his own ideas or preferences, but the truth of Christ and the Christian way of life. These have their origin not from any single pope or bishop, but from what has been passed down in the Church since the time of the Apostles. 

Because of this essential continuity and organic development of doctrine, adherence to the teaching of a past pope can never be regarded as a rejection of the teaching of a later one. Each one has made his own unique contribution to the treasury of Catholic teaching that always remains as an indivisible heritage. Nor must some teaching of any current pope ever be held up in contradiction to that of his predecessors, for the same reason. Rather, any differences should be seen as complementary aspects of one single truth. 

The very word Catholic means “according to the whole” in Greek. In other words, Catholic truth is, precisely, that truth that no single person can profess completely; no single mind or heart is big enough for that! Only all of us together can be “Catholic.” 

Similarly, no single pope with his own unique style can completely express the reality of the universal pastoral role. Each one brings his own unique contribution to that fullness.

Msgr. Michael Magee

(Living City, USA)